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| - We stayed at the HI Express in Vaughan, Ontario for three nights with our extended family for a wedding in Kleinburg. The hotel itself is *really* nice--lovely modern appointments done in soft browns and beiges with soothing, slightly abstract nature images all over the place. It has everything you might need--a small gym, a swimming pool, a small shop with snacks and toiletries and a simple but very satisfying free breakfast (juice, toast, english muffins, bagels, scrambled eggs, bacon, cinnamon roll, yogurt). Coffee is served free all day and there are two computers with complimentary internet access in the lobby, which is extremely useful.
The service was out of this world fantastic. Coming from Boston I'm always struck by the niceness of the Canadians, but here it was really above and beyond. My incredibly annoying family barraged them with a host of requests and random questions and they were unfailingly polite, helpful and cheerful. They opened up the pool one night to help out these beleaguered parents that were trying to coax their two tantrum-throwing kids back upstairs. Absolutely every time, the staff went above and beyond.
The location, though, leaves a lot to be desired. It's in an industrial area and in general it's the most depressing case of urban sprawl I've ever seen. There were just miles and miles of big block stores in grey concrete buildings and dozens upon dozens of enormous pylons. In terms of being convenient to get to other places, it fits the bill. It's about twenty minutes from the airport, 30 minutes to Toronto and close to several event venues in and around the nearby (and alarmingly more pleasant) Kleinburg. But the five mile radius around the hotel is the most surreal hellscape you can possibly imagine. I suppose it was built here because it's convenient and the land was probably insanely cheap. But it's a very depressing view out the window. And you can't get anywhere without a car, which to me is a major no-no.
However, the facilities themselves were great. Everyone commented on the odd elevators that had electric blue lights, making one feel like you were stepping into a nightclub on a spaceship. But even this seemed functional--the blue light was calming and it was easier to stand with a bunch of strangers than it normally is. The room was equally as soothing as the rest of the building with a very comfy bed and free shampoo, conditioner and body lotion (all of which smelled heavenly). If you are visiting nearby relatives or are attending a nearby event, I would recommend staying here. The place itself is really nice. But if your business is in Toronto, you're better off staying closer. The surrounding area is too grim to justify any savings.
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